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What Is Advent?
FAQs About Advent What is Advent? Learn about this four-week season of the church year leading up to the celebrated birth of Jesus at Christmas (Note: Advent 2024 begins on Sunday, December 1.) See Also Q: Why does the church year begin at Advent, what is the history of Advent, and what is the history behind the Advent candles and wreath? A: The word “advent” is from the Latin word for “coming,” and as such, describes the “coming” of our Lord…
What Is Lent?
FAQs About Lent What is Lent? Learn about this 40-day season of the church year leading up to Easter (Note: Lent 2024 begins on Wednesday, February 14.) See Also Q: What is the significance of Lent? A: Early in the Church’s history, the major events in Christ’s life were observed with special observances, such as His birth, baptism, death, resurrection and ascension. As these observances developed, a period of time was set aside prior to the major events of Jesus’ birth and…
Immanuel Welcomes 25 New Members
Welcome, New Members! Immanuel Lutheran Church LCMS and Martin Luther School in Joplin, Missouri is Grounded in Christ, Guided by Grace, and Growing to Serve since 1897… Sunday, April 30, 2023 In April, Immanuel welcomed 25 new members from twelve new families. There was a Baptism too! Welcome to God’s Family, Cody! Cody Michael Fraser was marked as Christ’s own in the 8:00 service on April 30, 2023. His parents, Chris and Tara, and his big brother Cameron were there,…
Introducing Daniel Comfort Dog
Joplin’s New Comfort Dog is Here! December 9, 2022. After a long wait and months of preparation, Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School in Joplin have returned to serving our community with Comfort Dog Ministry. Daniel Comfort Dog is here! Daniel the Golden Retriever and his team of handlers interact with people at churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, events, and in disaster response situations. Daniel is a friend who brings a calming influence and allows people to open up…
In Memory of Louie Comfort Dog
Thanking God For A Life Of Gentle, Faithful Service March 5, 2021. It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved friend, Louie Comfort Dog. In his retirement, Louie quietly struggled with seizures for more than a year. He died peacefully at home, with many of his handlers and caregivers at his side, comforting him as he passed. In the Summer of 2011, Louie and Jackson the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs began serving as…
Lent 2021 in a Time of Pandemic
From the Desk of Pastor Mech Immanuel Lutheran Church LCMS and Martin Luther School in Joplin, Missouri is Grounded in Christ, Guided by Grace, and Growing to Serve since 1897… NOTE: Lent 2021 begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021. Our Season of Repentance in a Time of Pandemic — Lent 2021 As with everything else in the last eleven months, Lent 2021 will be observed somewhat differently this year. Exhibit One is our ashless Ash Wednesday. I read the…
God With Us | December 25 Christmas Day Devotion
GOD WITH US Daily Devotion for Christmas Day 2020 | Friday, December 25 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7) Mary prepared for her baby’s birth as carefully as she could. She brought swaddling cloths with her, to wrap Jesus in—the humble…
Known By His Deeds | December 23 Advent Devotion
KNOWN BY HIS DEEDS Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Wednesday, December 23 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His Name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25) Do you realize that we never hear Joseph speak? Not once do we hear a word from his lips in the whole Gospel story. But that doesn’t stop…
Keeping His Promises | December 22 Advent Devotion
KEEPING HIS PROMISES Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Tuesday, December 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:22-23) How long was it between the day God made this promise and the day He kept it? Several hundred years, at least. God spoke through Isaiah to the evil King Ahaz,…
Son of David | December 21 Advent Devotion
SON OF DAVID Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Monday, December 21 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) I wonder…
A Third Way | December 20 Advent Devotion
A THIRD WAY Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Sunday, December 20 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:19) Joseph found himself caught in a nightmare situation that was none of his fault. His fiancée was pregnant, and he knew he was not the father. By Jewish law he had a legal case against her for adultery—and the traditional penalty for that was death by stoning. Hurt…
Undone | December 19 Advent Devotion
UNDONE Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Saturday, December 19 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18) Mary probably had a mental picture of how her life would go: first betrothal, then a few months before the wedding party, and then (nine or ten months later) a baby. It was the normal…